Sarasota Mayor Willie Shaw has declared June 12 Sarasota’s official “Stop the Violence Day” following an event held Sunday of the same name. Organized by internet radio station STLR Media and hosted in Payne Park, more than 300 attendees gathered for the first annual Stop the Violence Day to condemn the use of violence and promote community-based solutions and responsibility in what Shaw describes as “a powerful way to heal, transform and empower our lives. [To] reduce victimization to build a mutual sense of responsibility in our neighborhood, our communities and nation.”

With food provided by local restaurants such as BBQ Boyz and Solorzano’s Pizzeria and national brands like Tropicana and Nature’s Own sponsoring, Sarasota supporters gathered for the free cookout, while STLR organizers presented family-friendly and anti-violence music from STLR artists including Dirt Broke, DJ AK and SOTA. STLR’s previous anti-violence campaign, “Guns Down,” saw similar artists convene and record an album dedicated to the sentiment. “Being a hip hop-oriented radio station, we feel a need and a calling to make sure that people are educated about violence and anti-violence, especially with regards to prejudice,” says STLR artist and official audio mixer Christopher Wanta, who also performed under the name Anything But Broke. “Violence just begets more violence.”

While the event gained resonance in the wake of Sunday morning’s mass shooting in Orlando, the organization says the event was previously scheduled and the timing coincidental. Still, the tragedy made its presence known at the event. “It changed the demeanor; it changed the focus,” says Wanta. But there was also a catalyzing effect, he adds. “When we woke up to that, it was a sign that we were doing the right thing. Everyone that was a part of this got really serious.”

In the wake of Shaw’s pronunciation, Wanta reports that Stop the Violence Day will become an annual STLR event, hosted in Payne Park each year. This year STLR organizers gave away bicycles in an attempt to get neighborhood kids outside, active and in their community instead of in front of the TV, and, according to Wanta, although STLR is a profit-seeking business it will continue similar community investment down the line. Says Wanta: "We don’t see there being a conflict of interest when it comes to being a business and making money and taking care of and looking out for your community.” 

Pictured: Mayor Willie Shaw with STLR organizers and supporters. Photo by World Watcher.

The repercussions of the deadliest shooting in US history were felt in Sarasota, where a candlelight vigil was held Monday night in memory of victims of the attack on the Pulse. “The purpose of this vigil is to stand with people who have been affected by this tragedy, and people who might be dealing with grief separate from knowing someone in the tragedy,” said Catherine Woolf, one of the events organizers.

The Sarasota community felt the impact of the shooting directly, as one of the first names released as a victim of the attack was Eddie Sotomayor, Jr., a 34-year-old from Sarasota. He was brand manager for ALandCHUCK.travel and was known in town as “Top Hat Eddie.” Al Ferguson, a founder of the travel agency, spoke to CNN Monday about the loss of Sotomayor, who had sent messages shortly before the shooting indicating he was at Pulse. “He constantly talked about the idea of going out in the world,” Ferguson said. 

The event at Five Points Plaza was held the same night as a huge vigil in Orlando remembering victims of the shooting. Police say Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old from Fort Pierce, brought an automatic weapon into the gay club. FBI officials say at least 50 people, including Mateen, died as a result of the shooting and another 53 were injured. The City of Orlando is releasing names of victims on its city website as next of kin are notified.

The vigil in Sarasota had been organized by a number of individuals, many associated with organizations that have a history of supporting LGBT causes, including Equality Florida and the Harvey Milk Festival. 

Our fiery friend in the sky, responsible for both endless Florida sunshine and frazzled summer locks, has met its match in SachaJuan’s sun-focused haircare duo. Combined, two sunscreen products from the Swedish label work to combat the hair-damaging effects of Florida UV rays forever on hyperdrive, including protein loss, cuticle erosion and brassiness in color. Use Hair in the Sun to prep for a day at the beach—its superpower lies in the waterproof UV filter built into the formula. Hair After the Sun, the après-beach hair-smoother restores moisture and shine after a long, hard day of tanning. Let the powers of the Stockholm-based company’s proprietary “ocean silk technology” (a key component being sea algae-derived proteins and minerals) work magic on your hair, leaving it smooth and sun-damage free. The summery scent harkens back to the days of squeezing lemon juice atop your head for that beach-bum blonde—minus the citrus-induced dryness.  

Pictured: SachaJuan's hair "sunscreen." Photo by Heidi Stone.

Bomton Simply Spoiled, 1471 Main St., Sarasota, 941-364-3337

206 members of the US House of Representatives and 45 members of the US Senate have been honored by the US Chamber of Commerce with its annual Spirit of Enterprise Award. The award is given in recognition of their support for pro-jobs, pro-economic policies in the first session of the 114th Congress. Among those recipients is Florida Congressman Vern Buchanan who will receive his award on June 20.He will also be on hand at the event for a roundtable discussion with members of the Chamber on topics that affect the market area’s employers and region's prosperity.  

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

The Toro Company’s top North American distributor of irrigation, golf and grounds equipment, Wesco Turf, has received the 2016 Gallup Great Workplace Award. Headquartered in Sarasota, the company is one of 35 across the glove to be chosen for this esteemed award. In order to qualify, companies must demonstrate an extraordinary ability to create an engaging workplace across teams, departments and locations through employee surveys.  

Wesco Turf

Sarasota Memorial Hospital recently announced plans to build a new pediatric specialty outpatient care clinic in North Port on the second floor of the Sarasota Emergency Room and Health Care Center. SMH and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital have been collaborating for more than 20 years to improve the health of children in surrounding communities. The new clinic will extend their long-term relationship through JHACH's proposed plan providing highly specialized pediatric clinical services to the children of the North Port region. It is expected to open in 2017. 

Sarasota Memorial Hospital